Xingyue stared at the floating options in her mind, her heart pounding wildly in her chest.

Ruoxi was currently busy in the kitchen, the sweet aroma of cake drifting over mixed with the hum of the oven.

Xingyue: ‘I’ll just pick A (◦`~´◦)’

As long as she could shake off Ruoxi for now and find her old subordinates, there was a chance to turn the tables.

And so, Xingyue left.

The moment she escaped the villa, a biting cold wind made Xingyue shiver.

This loli’s body is too weak. Even the force of her hair hitting her cheeks when she runs seems heavy.

But the taste of freedom was more precious than anything.

“The closest subordinate from here is… Ellie!”

She stumbled through the streets, relying on her past life’s memory to sprint towards the milk tea shop where Ellie worked.

Even though they were evil villains, they still had to make a living (sad).

So, in their daily lives, they each had their own identities and earned funds through part-time jobs.

****

Soon, Xingyue arrived at the milk tea shop where Ellie worked—the “Rose Teahouse.”

She immediately spotted Ellie behind the counter, her hair in twin pigtails, a strawberry pin on her pink apron, standing on her tiptoes to wipe a cup on a high shelf, completely devoid of her ferocious appearance in battle.

“Welcome.”
Ellie turned around, flashing a customer-service smile, her gaze pausing for a moment as it swept over Xingyue.

“This… little girl? What would you like to drink?”

‘Ah, she really doesn’t recognize me (´-﹏-`；)’

This expected reaction actually made Xingyue sigh in relief. In her past life, as the aloof, big-sister type executive, Xing Yue had little private contact with her subordinates. Now, in this white-haired loli form, it was indeed hard for anyone to connect her with that imposing boss.

“I’ll have… a strawberry milk foam.”
Xingyue climbed onto a high stool, deliberately speaking in a soft, sweet voice.

“Okay, please wait a moment~”

Watching Ellie turn to operate the coffee machine, she hesitated for a moment, then lowered her voice, “Big sister, do you know Evil Magical Girl Moon?”

The whirring of the metal milk frother came to an abrupt halt. Ellie’s back instantly tensed, and the milk pitcher in her hand almost tilted.

“L-Little girl, what nonsense are you talking about? I don’t understand.”

Ellie forced an awkward smile.

“I’m actually Xing Yue!”
Xingyue leaned forward eagerly.

“After I was captured by the magical girl, she turned me into this, and she’s even forcing me to be a magical girl…”

Xingyue told Ellie her story.

However…

“Little girl, although I don’t know how you found out about us… but…”

“Lady Xing Yue has been dead for a long time. Are you playing a prank here to provoke us?”

Ellie’s gaze turned sharp.

As a timid loli, Xingyue couldn’t help but feel a little scared.

“I really am Xing Yue…”

“Stop messing around, little girl. Do you know Lady Xing Yue better, or do I?”

Xingyue: (°ー°〃)?

“Your strawberry milk foam is ready. Take it and go, don’t disturb my business.”

Ellie placed the strawberry milk foam in front of Xingyue and turned away, ignoring her.

But Xingyue didn’t leave.

“Hah… Fine, even if what you’re saying is true… how could that magical girl have let you go? She’s the one who killed Lady Xing Yue with her own hands!”

Ellie asked.

Just then…

[Time of Decision!]

[A. Tell Ellie about the rewind ability.]

[B. Leave in silence.]

‘Ughhh… this is so frustrating X﹏X’

‘If only I had spent more time getting to know them before, maybe I could’ve said something personal to convince her, boohoo…’

‘At this point, telling them about the rewind is my only option.’

Xingyue: ‘I don’t care anymore! I’ll risk it! (ﾉ｀⊿´)ﾉ’

And so, Xingyue prepared to tell her about the rewind.

However…

“Hehehe, I actually came here to provoke you, you trash-tier villain~ Trash~ Trash~”

Ellie: …?

The cup in Venomous Rose’s hand slowly slipped from her grasp.

Xingyue: Σ(ŎдŎ|||)ﾉﾉ

“No, no, no… Why would I say something like that?!”

“Little girl… it seems you need to be taught a lesson.”

Ellie smiled, but a vein was already throbbing on her forehead.

But just then…

“What is…?”

Ellie’s gaze was fixed on the faintly glowing star badge on Xingyue’s chest. The hands she usually used to make milk tea were now trembling slightly.

“You’re a magical girl!”

Ellie’s voice rose sharply, and her originally gentle features were instantly frosted with cold.

“Eh? Eh?! “

Xingyue looked down and was instantly struck by lightning.

In her haste to escape, she had forgotten to take off the transformation badge Ruoxi had given her!

That star was particularly glaring under the warm yellow lights of the milk tea shop.

“No, Ellie, let me explain!”
She frantically reached out to cover it, but it was too late.

“Explain?”
Ellie sneered, and dark green vines suddenly shot out from under her pink apron.

The thorny plants writhed like living creatures, wrapping around Xingyue’s wrists and ankles in the blink of an eye.

“I get it now. Not only did you magical girls take Lady Xing Yue’s life, but now you come here to insult her to our faces? How bold!”

“Aya-ya-ya-ya X﹏X”

Xingyue was tied up by the vines and hung upside down, the tips of her hair almost sweeping the floor.

She struggled to lift her head and met Ellie’s bloodshot eyes, suddenly realizing the situation was very, very bad—ever since Xing Yue’s “death,” these subordinates had likely poured all their hatred onto magical girls.

‘Nothing I say will work now QAQ’

“Now it’s time for your punishment. Get ready.”

The vines beside Ellie writhed, preparing to punish Xingyue.

Xingyue: ‘Noooooo ˃̣̣̥᷄⌓˂̣̣̥᷅’